News
Entertainment
Science & Technology
Life
Culture & Art
Hobbies
News
Entertainment
Science & Technology
Culture & Art
Hobbies
Replay: Connexion Patient Leader Certification Launch | Social Health Network
The Health Union Patient Leader Certification Program offers a comprehensive toolkit for Patient Leaders seeking to elevate their impact in the healthcare space. During the Connexion Conference in 2023, Julie Croner shares the launch of the first Patient Leader Certification program of its kind. Moving through 3 main competencies – Powerful Storytelling, Meaningful Engagement and Responsible Patient Leadership – Patient Leaders deepen their knowledge, hone
Connexion Replay: A Look At Health Leadership | Social Health Network
Health Leaders wear many hats. Some lead support groups, some advocate for their loved ones at the doctor\'s office, some work with legislatures to expand healthcare coverage, and more. In this session, the options and opportunities that are available to Health Leaders as they move through their advocacy journeys are covered. Watch below. Key takeaways: Health Leadership can be defined as any action that speaks
Replay: Connexion Advocacy Crafting Session With Carolyn Rotella | Social Health Network
Healthcare advocacy as a Health Leader is deeply meaningful work--it can also quickly lead to burnout. Crafting effective health advocacy strategies requires not only your expert knowledge as a patient, but also a commitment to making a meaningful impact on the lives of individuals and communities through purposeful advocacy efforts. In this Connexion session, Carolyn Rotella, Health Union\'s Director of Training and Education, walks Health
Replay: Connexion Opening Session With Health Union's Executive Team | Social Health Network
Health Union hosted their 7th annual Connexion conference for Health Leaders on July 25th and 26th, 2023. Health Leaders from around the world joined virtually and connected, engaged, and learned from each other. The conference began with a welcome from Health Union\'s Executive Team. See what they had to say in the video below. Key takeaways Patient Leaders (sometimes called Patient Influencers) are unique health
5 Reasons to Consider the Health Union Patient Leader Certification Program | Social Health Network
In the realm of healthcare advocacy and patient empowerment, the role of Patient Leaders has gained significant importance. Patient Leaders play a crucial role in advocating for the needs and concerns of their respective communities. To enhance their skills, expand their knowledge, and amplify their impact, many Patient Leaders are looking for specialized programs to gain a stamp of credibility in the landscape. The Health
A How-To Guide for Self-Advocacy | Social Health Network
After the initial shock of a chronic or terminal illness diagnosis, questions arise. What does this mean? How do I manage the symptoms? Can I afford my treatments and appointments? It feels overwhelming. Learning to advocate for yourself is vital. Self-advocacy ensures you get the answers and care you need. Preparing for doctor visits Advocating for yourself means preparing ahead of time for your appointments.
My Experience on the Patient Leadership Council | Social Health Network
Editor\'s note: This article was written by Patient Leader Lisa Marie Basile, who writes and moderates on AxialSpondyloarthritis.net. You can see Lisa\'s Social Health Network profile here, and read more of her articles on AxialSpondyloarthritis.net here. You can learn more about Health Union\'s Patient Leadership Council here. Applications for 2024 will open in October 2023! My time on the PLC Founded in 2020, the Patient
The Biggest Misunderstandings About Health Advocacy - Social Health Network
Choosing to become an advocate means sharing a health journey. To educate others, advocates share personal details about their health. They become vulnerable to help others on similar journeys. Unfortunately, misconceptions about the role and purpose of advocacy abound. Friends, loved ones, and even strangers often make insensitive comments that show their lack of understanding. We wanted to learn more about the misconceptions about health
Announcing the 2023 Social Health Awards Winners! - WEGO Health
The Social Health Awards honor and recognize the efforts of patients and caregivers within their communities and at the industry level. Our Health Leaders constantly amaze us through their unique advocacy efforts. Supporting fellow patients and caregivers with the tools they need to be the best version of themselves is worth celebrating! Our judges had a challenging task narrowing down all of these tremendous nominees.
People and Tools That Have Helped Us With Our Advocacy Journeys - WEGO Health
Behind advocates are people and resources that help them thrive. Family members or friends, apps or tools, each person’s supports are unique. The Social Health Network’s Facebook group recently asked 2 questions: “If you could give one person an award for their help in your advocacy journey – whether that be a healthcare provider, your spouse, or a beloved pet – who would it be?”
The Cycle of Advocacy - WEGO Health
At the Social Health Network, our job is to help support you as you grow from a patient or caregiver to a powerhouse in the community. We want to give you the tools to: Use your voice to make the needs of your community known Support or oppose legislation that empowers or endangers patients Organize and utilize the voices of others who are suffering to
Meet the 2023 Social Health Awards Finalists - WEGO Health
We’re excited to announce our 2023 Social Health Awards finalists! It\'s been an incredible experience for our judges (and our team) to get to know our Health Leaders better through their advocacy. Living with (or caring for a loved one) with a chronic or terminal illness can feel overwhelming at times but coming together to honor each other reminds us how important this work is.
Social Health Network Features and Benefits - WEGO Health
Supporting our Health Leaders is the sole focus of the Social Health Network (SHN). As a Health Union community, we welcome patients, caregivers, and HCPs from all condition areas to bring empathy, support, and humanity to healthcare through the power of social health. How do we do this? We have numerous resources, events, and opportunities to amplify your voice and impact as a health leader.
Expanding Your Value as a Patient Key Opinion Leader - WEGO Health
As a Patient Leader, you\'ve answered the call to help other patients and caregivers in your community. Day in and day out, you\'re entrenched in your community\'s conversation. By sharing your own story and interacting with others, you\'ve become a trusted source. So others come to you for help, information, and advice. Because you\'re so ingrained in your community, you have a constant pulse on
What Does Advocacy Burnout Look Like for You? - WEGO Health
Burnout can be defined as a state of prolonged physical or mental stress. Its symptoms can include exhaustion, depression, anxiety, lack of joy doing activities that you previously enjoyed, and just a general feeling of \'I need a break!\' Patient Leaders like you work hard each and every day, advocating for your own health and the health of your community members. You write articles, manage
What is Connexion? - WEGO Health
Social Health Connexion, often referred to as Connexion, is Health Union’s annual conference for Health Leaders. Social Health Connexion will provide education, resources, and connection to help support and impact Health Leaders so they can learn and grow! We also announce and honor the winners of the Social Health Awards, where Health Union recognizes and celebrates the important work of health leaders. Connexion is open
REPLAY: How To Use TikTok to Further Your Advocacy - WEGO Health
TikTok allows its users to create short videos that are captivating, creative, and authentic. With over 14 million daily users, it has become a rapidly growing space for Patient Leaders hoping to share their chronic or terminal illness journey. On TikTok, Patient Leaders can create content about their experience, connect with others, and raise their voice. TikTok is a newer form of social media and
REPLAY: How to Advocate for a Terminal Condition Panel - WEGO Health
We were joined by panelists Olivia Salvo, Sarita Edwards, and Abigail Johnston as they discussed the differences, challenges, and opportunities they encountered while advocating for a terminal diagnosis versus a chronic condition. If you weren’t able to watch the panel live, we recommend that you check out the replay for useful tips to advocate for yourself or a loved one living with a terminal condition.
Social Health Awards: Nominate a Health Leader - WEGO Health
Julie Croner, VP of Community Development, and Scott Schappell, Chief Revenue Officer, discuss the importance of the Social Health Awards program, specifically nominating Health Leaders making an impact in the healthcare space. Why nominate a health leader? Nominating a Health Leader is a simple and rewarding way to show your support! Between May 1-22nd, you can nominate Health Leaders within one of the 10 categories
Social Health Awards: The Mutual Value and Impact for Patients and Industry - WEGO Health
The Social Health Awards is the only awards program judged by patients and industry alike that recognizes health leaders for their hard work and dedication to drive meaningful connections and conversations through social health - across almost all condition areas and social platforms. Thousands of nominations are submitted annually across 10 award categories and, for the second year in a row, winners will be recognized
Let’s Talk Medical Gaslighting: A Panel Discussion - WEGO Health
The term \'medical gaslighting\' describes patients\' experiences of having their symptoms dismissed as insignificant or labeled as being “all in their head” by healthcare providers. In this replay session, we aim to not only learn about medical gaslighting but also identify examples in our own lives when we have been gaslighted. We hear from Patient Leaders about how they have dealt with it, and we
Meet the 2023 Patient Leadership Council Members! - WEGO Health
The Patient Leadership Council (PLC) is made up of Social Health Award winners and Health Union Patient Leaders. The PLC helps Health Union with event planning and brings the patient perspective into many different projects. This vital group also encourages engagement across Health Union communities. Meet the 2023 PLC members below. Social Health Award winners Jill King: Rookie of the Year Jill navigates her life
Community Views: Most Rewarding Advocacy Experience - WEGO Health
Being a health advocate is such a powerful experience for a variety of reasons. To learn more about the ways this role has changed the lives of our health leaders, we reached out to the Social Health Network Facebook group. We asked, “In all of your advocacy work, what has been your most rewarding experience or achievement?” Dozens of people responded. Here is some of
Expert Perspectives: A Conversation on the Role of Responsible Patient Leadership - WEGO Health
Health Union recently partnered with researchers at the University of Colorado to look at the unique role Patient Leaders play in sharing health-related information with their social media followers. The findings from this research were published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research. Our Vice President of Community Development, Julie Croner, recently interviewed the lead author, Dr. Erin Willis, PhD, MPH about her findings. In
Social Health Awards 2023 | How It Works - WEGO Health
The Social Health Awards are kicking off to celebrate patient leaders from around the globe. The Social Health Awards empower and celebrate those leading the online health community - because the work of patient leaders is something to celebrate! Health Union’s extensive research into social health has found 95% of individuals use social resources for support and guidance. Even more impressive? Thanks to patient leaders,
Social Health Awards 2023 | How It Works - WEGO Health
The Social Health Awards are kicking off to celebrate patient leaders from around the globe. The Social Health Awards empower and celebrate those leading the online health community - because the work of patient leaders is something to celebrate! Health Union’s extensive research into social health has found 95% of individuals use social resources for support and guidance. Even more impressive? Thanks to patient leaders,
Community Views: Becoming a Patient Leader - WEGO Health
The journey of advocacy takes many twists and turns. For some, it is easy to get started, while for others it takes time to find a niche. Reaching the point where you identify as a patient leader can take time. Ultimately, you realize that you are having a real impact on the health and well-being of others. We wondered about your journeys to becoming patient
Getting A Campaign: Tip Sheet - WEGO Health
Interested in being part of a paid influencer campaign with the Social Health Network? We’re looking for patient leaders like you to represent your community in upcoming social media campaigns. Here are some tips on being chosen for an opportunity: You must currently reside in the United States You must be 18 years of age or older You must have a way of being contacted
Patient Leadership Council: 2023 Goals - WEGO Health
Each year, we have our Social Health Award winners join a small group of carefully selected Health Leaders to give feedback on Health Union projects, called the Patient Leadership Council (PLC). We work together at meetings throughout the year, getting to know each other and generating ideas together. At the end of our year together, we asked the 2022 PLC members to share with us
Our Health Leaders' Proudest Moments From 2022 - WEGO Health
The end of the year is often a time for reflection. Many moments make up those 365 days. We asked patient leaders to think about the last year. On the Social Health Network Facebook page, we asked, “In terms of advocacy, what are you most proud of this year?” Patient leaders made many strides in advocacy efforts throughout the year! Presenting at conferences National conferences
Reshare: Why You Should Be Open With Your Crohn’s Diagnosis - WEGO Health
Elizabeth Alvarez was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease in 2011. She was 21 years old and endured many years of suffering...Elizabeth wants nothing more than to share her story, knowledge and special tips she has learned over the 7 years of living with Crohn’s. Her blog thedancingcrohnie.com shares amazing information and encouraging words to those dealing with IBD. This week, we're resharing her article titled 'Why
Reshare: Exploring Blogging as a Newly Diagnosed Patient - WEGO Health
April Stearns was diagnosed at 35 years old with stage 3 breast cancer that she found while breastfeeding her daughter. Four years later, while struggling to “go back to normal” and find other women in similar circumstances, April launched Wildfire Magazine. Now she enjoys not only publishing the stories of those “too young for breast cancer,” she also finds pleasure in helping others heal through
Interview: Hope's Idiopathic Condylar Resorption Journey - WEGO Health
Recently we had the pleasure of interviewing Health Leader Hope Tocci, who wanted to share her experience living with Idiopathic Condylar Resorption. You can read her story below. How would you describe Idiopathic Condylar Resorption to others? I would describe ICR as a rare degenerative joint disease of the jaw/TMJ that is a progressive, debilitating disease that affects all aspects of your quality of life
Meet Some of Our 2022 Content Creators! - WEGO Health
In 2022, the Social Health Network partnered with several incredible patient leaders to create impactful social media campaigns. As part of this partnership, we want to highlight these amazing individuals' advocacy work. Tanya Freirich, Lupus Patient Leader Tanya combines her passion as a registered dietician nutritionist with advocating for lupus. Navigating her own lupus diagnosis, she found that lifestyle and dietary changes helped her manage
Prepare to Share: Learning How To Tell Your Story - WEGO Health
When it comes to patient advocacy, a huge part of the experience is telling your story. Whether you're sharing it on social media, in an interview, to a fellow support group attendee, or with someone whom you just met on the street, there's a lot of decisions you have to make! What details should I share? How can I condense this story? How much medical
Announcing the Inaugural Social Health Awards Finalists - WEGO Health
This year has brought so many exciting changes - from the launch of the Social Health Network to the inaugural Social Health Awards (previously the WEGO Health Awards). While the name may have undergone a rebrand, our hope of recognizing and honoring the thousands of patients and caregivers supporting the online health community remains the same. Our patient leaders constantly amaze us through their unique